Coin and check separator



July 24, 1951 F. G. NICOLAUS ETAL 2,561,880

com AND CHECK SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Halter mfiar'rrs izla Weds/Z 77a 6.50 1.

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July 1951 F. cs. NICOLAUS ETAL 2,561,880

COIN AND CHECK SEPARATOR Filed Dec. 23, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1171/2 rife rs. flank flacolaas. waler-mfiarrv 416, 776 6'5 7. 77666077.

Patented July 24, 1951 2,561,880 com AND CHECK SEPARATOR Frank G. Nicolaus, Walter M. Burnside, and Nels A. Nelson, Chicago, Ill assignors -to Raymond T. Moloney Application December 23, 1946, Serial'No. 717,968

colaims. (01. 133-4) This invention pertains to coin and check handling devices and has .as its principal object the provision of an 'lectromagnetically actuated check and coin separating device especially suited for use with coin and check-operated machines and operating to direct .coins and checks into different receptacles.

Another object is the provision of .a check and coin separating mechanism in the form of a unit removably attached to a coin or check stacking tube.

A further obie'ct is the provision :of a coin 01 check receiving or stacking tube having .an especially formed :mouth or throat adapted to prevent jamming when .the tube :is full. Yet another object is the provision, in a device 'of the class described, of a unitary mechanism inecluding a rockable coin iolr check .discharger, .a simple electromagnetic means :for rocking the same, an especially contrived bracket means mounting the elements of said mechanism in funi talry relationship on arcoin stacking tube .or the like, and a coin or check guiding chute also cair riedjby said :bracket means for directing coins or checks into the rockable. discharger in the manner and :for the purposes hereinafter more particularly specified.

Additional objects and aspects of utility and novelty pertain to details of structure and function of the preferred embodiment hereinafter described in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel check separator and mounting means attached to a roinstacher tube, "the latter shown in fragment;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the upper or mouth portion of the coin stacking tube;

Fig. 3 is another perspective view of "the separator uni-t similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but viewed from the opposite side shown in Fig. l; Fig. 41is afragmentary perspective view of parts shown Fig. 3, with the coin or check discharger or deflector shown in actuated or advanced posiitio'n.

In various types of coin-operated machines,

metallic content; and it is desirable to separate "the coins from the checks in the machine for purposes of collection and accounting, and to avoid the necessity of manually counting out or neparating out the checks from the specie coins "in coin collection box or tube.

. 2 Devices for separating coins from checks: s aif'oresa 'ld, are known in the art, but they. "do not have the features of fiexibility, adaptability in mounting and detaching, simplicity and "ruggedness of construction, ease of servicing, positive action, and reliability -characterising the device disclosed herein. f

Referring to Fig. *1, the novel unit includes -'a rigid upright it provided with a *mountingclamp H at its root secured by means of nut and :bolt means 1 2 to the upper end portion I3 'of "a coin or 'check stacking tube or receptacle M. Clamp I is'oi U-shaped'metal having the lower part of the upright H1 preferably spot-welded to the bight portion thereof. Atabout the midportion of the upright Ill, as seen by reference to both Figs. 1 and 3, is anangle bracke'tfl'E, se- (lured to the 'upright'as by spot-Welding, one a'n'gle off this brackethavi-ng spot-welded thereto a second, elongated "angle bracket l6 (Fig.3) upon "which is mounted by screws 11 and a third small angle bracket lil supporting an electromagnetic solenoid l9.

A 'rockable coin 'discharger or directing means (Figs 1 and 3) includes a le'v'er arm 2!! having an angular end-projedt'ion E ficient into a yoke 01' U- shaped bracket including a short angular offset arm portion 22 with aligned apertures in *the latter arm portion and the lever arm body through which projects a pin 23 staked into the large angle bracket 16, so that said lever arm is pivc ted in the region above the mouth of the stacki n' tube M. V

The lower or tail portion of the rocker lever has staked therein a'pin 24 'removably attached, as 'by means 25, Figs. 1 and 3, to an end of a link 26 which has its opposite end pivotally attached as at 21 in the slotted end of the soleno id plunger 28 (Figs. 3 and 4), said plunger bein normally disposed outward of the solenoid by spring means in the core thereof (not seen) so that said rocker lever "2 0 is disposed at 2. normal, lowered condition, as in Figs. 1 and '3. I

Means for selectively receiving and holding a check or coin element, depending upon. the diameter thereof, on the rocker lever or directing means, includes a shallow trough or tray portion '36, Fig. 3 particularly, having a circular coin or check passage 3] of predetermined diameter in the bottom thereof. Preferably, this trough is constructed from a flat piece of sheet metal pierced at its lower end to pass mounting screws 3 2 threaded into the yoke portion 2!, opposite side portions of this piece being upset to provide side guards 33.

At the lower part of this trough is a small z 'or check into the latter.

end and mouth of the stacker tube l4. On the other hand, if the diameter of such 28 thereof inwardly, retracting link 26, and rockoperation of the mechanism shown and described.

angular foot or coin stop 34, preferably spotwelded, as at 35, to the lower portion of said metal piece from which the trough is formed; and at the upper end of the trough, there is spot-welded a bar 36 affording a coin stop at the upper end region of this trough. I H

The di'ameterof the hole 3 I determinesWhether a coin or a check is to be retained in the trough upon delivery from a downwardly pitched guide 31 stamped from sheet metal parts rolled to form a closed tube of square cross section or; rectangular section with the seam at the side indicated at 38, Figs. 1 and 3, there being an stacker, bracket means removably clamped to the upset lip 39 for guiding coins gravitatingly into this chute guide, which is attached by a spotwelded bracket 4|] to the upper portionofqthe main upright ID, so that the lower or discharge end of the guide chute confronts the upper end' of the rockable trough means 30 to direct a coin 1 If the check intended to be received in the device is of lesser diameter than the hole 3!, it

will drop through the latter and into the upper check is greater than that of hole 3|, as it may .well be in certain cases, then such check would .lie in the trough means 30 until the solenoid coil i9 is energized to draw the plunger means-g ing lever arm about pin means 23, so that the trough portion is elevated with a quick movement into the discharging position shown in .Fig. 4, the coin or check, whichever, contained therein being thus sharply flung into space in an arc contained in the plane of movement of the rockable means and more or less concentric with the rocking axis at 23, to be received in a suitable wide-mouthed box or receptacle, not shown.- I :It is to be understood that the checks or. the coins may be permitted to pass through the hole 3| and into the stacker I4, as desired, the device,

.hewever, normally being intended to handle a ;coin,of a certain denomination and diameter, fOl'.-' example, a nickel, dime, or quarter, and a check ,of; analogous size'but slightly larger or smaller diameter than the corresponding coin. The em- -.-bodiment shown is actually intended to retain a five-cent coin or nickel in the trough means 30,- and to permita smaller check to pass into the stacker I4; however, the reverse might be desirable, so that it is to be understood that whether the rockable means 30 holds a coin or a check and-permits the substitute check or coin to pass ,into the stacker, is, a matter of preference and not a limiting feature.

.Various arrangements are employed for causing energization of the solenoid atdesired times, asfor example, immediately following the receipt of a coin element into the trough means; however, such arrangements are not shown here, it

being sufficient to state that the solenoid or coil l9;is energized from any desired source or by any suitable means at the appropriate time to cause;

.A further, feature of the invention pertains to reach the upper extremities of the tube proper,

. .of the disclosures which originate herein.

4 out of the mouth of the tube, instead of piling up and jamming or blocking entrance to the tube and the region below the rocking parts.

Changes in the structural and functional features of the embodiment described in detail herein, for purposes of disclosure and illustration,

will doubtless occur to thoseiskilled in the art,

- and it is the intention to include all such changes within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and fairly within the ambit We claim: l. Coin handling means including an upright rnent resting therein, and means carried on said bracket means for guiding coin elements into said trough. 2-. Coin and check separating mechanism comprising a rockable trough having" a coin passage of determined diameter in the bottom thereof, :means normally supporting'said trough at. an inclined position such that a coin element larger than said diameter will rest therein, coin elements of lesser diameter passing through said passage, electromagnetic means for briskly rocking said trough from said normal position into'an' elevated position to fling a coin element resting therein outwardly therefrom,- and means for guiding coin elements into said trough. I

' 3. Coin and check separating mechanismcomprising an upright tube having a non-jamming sloped mouth to receive coin 'elements'for'stacking in the tubegabracket clamped tothe tube adjacent said mouth, a pivoted coin receptacle carried by said bracket and normally inclined above said mouth so that a coin element will 5 resttherein if said element is of apredetermined diameter, said receptacle having a coin passage in the bottom thereof of less than said'predetermined diameter and aligned with said mouth such that coin elements of diameter small enough to pass therethrough will descend into said mouth, means carried by said bracket-means for directing coin elements into said receptacle, solenoid means carried by said bracket and linked oper- ,atively with said pivoted receptacle to pivot the latter from normal to advanced position an amount to dislodge a coin resting therein outwardly thereof, responsive to energization of said solenoid means, said mouth'being angled crosswise of the axis of said tube to deflect surplus coins from the tube and prevent jammingsat said mouth.

4. Mechanism of the class'described including an; upright, a U-shaped clamp at the foot of said uprightfor attachment to a stacker tube orthe like, asolenoid and means attaching the same at a side of saidupright with the plunger of said to said tube when attached as aforesaid, aycoin receiver rockable about an approximately. horisubsequently deposited coins Qazwill be deflected zontal axis on pin means supported in a partpf said means attaching said solenoid to the upright, said receiver normally disposed at an inclination above said entrance when attached as aforesaid and formed to retain an intended coin and having a coin passage of predetermined 5 diameter therethrough such that a coin element of lesser than intended-coin diameter may pass therefrom into said entrance, means operatively linking said solenoid with said rockable receiver and energizable to rock the latter from said normal disposition with force sufficient to dislodge a coin element retained therein and eject the coin element therefrom.

FRANK G. NICOLAUS.

WALTER M. BURNSIDE.

NELS A. NELSON.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,982 Mattson Dec. 19, 1893 540,701 Taylor June 11, 1895 661,471 Hibberd et a1 Nov. 6, 1900 1,288,184 Price Dec. 17, 1918 1,622,673 Reilley Mar. 29, 1927 1,839,480 Hochriem Jan. 5, 1932 2,041,878 Troy May 26, 1936 

